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BLOGGER BIO: NIRU

Niru KumarEntrepreneur, lawyer and mother, Niru is the visionary and creative force behind a new one-of-a-kind lifestyle show aimed at examining the rich and complex South Asian experience in North American life. Join her as she chronicles her journey into the creative world of producing a show and as she explores interesting, engaging and compelling issues that grab our attention and capture our imagination.

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Personal Development

05/25/2011

The other day, my daughter asked me one of the two questions that parents most dread. No, it was not the one where she asked how she came to exist, that delightful conversation has yet to come! Rather, her query was about the other end of life (no pun intended).

Mama, what happens after you die?

Now, to know my daughter is to know that a superficial, partial or vague answer just will not do. If the response does not satisfy her insatiably curious little mind, she will delve, prod and exhaust every angle she can think of.

Once, as she was strapped into her car seat in the back of the car, it suddenly piqued her curiosity to find out how I had this ‘magical’ power to make the car move. And so she asked. But how does it move just by pressing a pedal? How do you make it go fast? How do you make it go slow? How does it stop? What is your other foot doing? Can I see the pedals?

See what I mean?

Ok, so, what happens after you die?

Laced into the very question is the need, in addition to the factual information, for emotional reassurance. Most grown-ups struggle to accept the implications of death; it is only normal that it would cause some anxiety in children. The answers given, even the words chosen, have to be carefully weighed to strike the right balance.

And then there is the problem of absolutes. For kids, things are black or white, yes or no … in other words, definitive. Just as they need routines, they crave certainty. But really, who among us can be absolutely sure about what happens after death?

Of course, each faith answers this very question according to its own set of beliefs. But even reaching into mine for the answer, how could I even begin to explain the notions of the soul, reincarnation, nirvana or eternal bliss to a 5-year old? Compendiums have been written expounding on each, where to begin??

I had about a millisecond to decide how I was going to tackle this, as she stared at me with her trusting big eyes.

Thinking this would be a good time acquaint her with the notions that not everything in life is known, that people disagree with one another on important questions and that I don’t have all the answers, I decided to start with a general approach and gradually make my way to the state of nirvana or moksha (which for simplicity’s sake means union with God or eternal bliss). It seemed like a good plan.

I took a deep breath and began.

Do you remember when we talked about different religions? Yes. Well people from different religions have different ideas about what happens after you die. For example, Christians believe that people go to heaven. What’s Heaven? Christians believe it is a beautiful, perfect place where you are always happy and nothing bad ever happens to you. But what is there in Heaven? I’m not sure, but I think everything that you love. So, in Heaven, you can eat candies and ice cream and it’s not bad for you? And you can ride your bike all day? And if you fall and break your arm [a current reality for her], it won’t hurt?

Uh-oh, first inkling that this conversation was not heading in the direction I had planned.

So I sped the discussion along and discovered it was a tad tough for a pint-sized person to understand the distinction between the body and the soul, at which point I careened to the exciting and ultimate destination (also of the soul) where, according to our faith, you get to be with God all the time!

Nope, it couldn’t compete with Heaven and the candies.

I crashed and burned on this first spiritual talk with my daughter. Nirvana seemed positively boring compared to Heaven. Of course, I had deliberately chosen not to describe Heaven’s counterpoint, Hell.

Thankfully, I am sure I will get another crack at giving her all the necessary information so that she can make up her own mind about what she believes. Because if there is one thing we know about kids, it is that they love repetition.

And while there may be few certainties in life, of that I am positively sure.

Her claim is essentially this: Chinese kids consistently outperform their Western counterparts because of the strict manner in which they have been raised. Whereas Western parents may encourage learning, they are overall more lax in how far they push their children to achieve academic or artistic excellence. The Western motto is “try your best” and to praise outcomes that fall short of that best in order to preserve a child’s self-esteem. Chinese parents, on the other hand, assume strength and not fragility in a child’s character and believe them capable of achieving the best, so they do whatever is necessary in pursuit of the highest standards. If that means 3 hours of piano practice every night or endless academic drills, then so be it. For them, happiness follows success.

An interesting argument, to be sure. And, in a way, who can argue with the logic? After all, there has to be some explanation for the fact that so many Chinese children do turn out to be math whizzes, musical prodigies or other high achievers.

Take Amy Chua herself. A law professor at Yale and the author of published books, by all objective accounts she is eminently accomplished. She credits her achievements to her strict upbringing by her immigrant Chinese parents, a parenting style Amy Chua now advocates and practices with her own two daughters.

So, for instance, while her two daughters were growing up, they were never allowed to:

• attend a sleepover

• have a playdate

• be in a school play

• complain about not being in a school play

• watch TV or play computer games

• choose their own extracurricular activities

• get any grade less than an A

• not be the No. 1 student in every subject except gym and drama

• play any instrument other than the piano or violin

• not play the piano or violin.

Hmmm.

It strikes me that these measures seem a bit extreme.

As parents we walk a fine line on virtually every issue. For instance, I am now trying to teach my 5-year old about independence while also teaching her about safety vis-à-vis strangers. Giving her some room to learn for herself is important to her confidence and decision-making abilities, in other words, her personal growth. But keeping her out of harm’s way is of paramount importance to us. So we teach her about safety. We give her some rules and guidelines, and have discussions. Now consider this: we could have achieved this same goal by taking the extreme measure of never allowing her to leave home. We would achieve one goal but significantly impact another. While Amy Chua’s daughters may be superstar performers at school and in their pre-selected extra-curricular activities, I cannot imagine the absence of some significant impacts on other areas of their development.

So here is the way I see it. Amy Chua’s approach is flawed for 2 principal reasons.

First, she presupposes that her definition of success is the only kind of success that has any value. To her, to be the A-student or the artistic maestro or to simply be the best, is the only laudable goal. But is competitiveness really the only worthwhile value in life? Does being second best or even average make a person’s worth inferior? What about teaching your children about the value of other worthwhile goals such as emotional happiness, spiritual growth, or social connectivity? Studies have shown that these factors are significantly relevant to living a well-balanced, fulfilled and happy life.

Which brings me to my second problem with her approach. Balance. Or rather, lack thereof. Her approach is so imbalanced, without moderation, off-kilter I would suggest. If success really is a more complex notion than her simplistic definition, then imparting the necessary skills and values to our children is a more nuanced exercise than simply yelling at our kids until they achieve! perform! succeed! Amy Chua’s harshness and uncompromising nature, her use of disparaging language (calling her daughters “garbage”) when they failed to measure up, her willingness to have screaming fits until they satisfied her standards shocked me.

Now, I do not doubt Amy Chau’s love for her kids. Rather, I applaud the single-minded dedication with which she imparted her values to her daughters.

But I do challenge those values.

And her methodology.

There are other ways of achieving excellence without being a fierce Tiger Mom. As a case in point, I think it is fair to say that South Asians are a fairly high achieving group, wouldn’t you agree? I grew up in one of those families, within a larger Punjabi community. There were rules, even strict ones, and a definitive focus on high academic achievement. But rather than the ferocity of the Tiger Mom, we were raised with the more tender and protective nudge of a Mama Bear.

I think the results speak for themselves. And now, I have got to run. My daughter’s friend is coming for a sleepover tonight.

11/17/2010

I glanced down at my ornate plate, at the exquisite fabric that concealed the dried fruit and nuts, sweets and rice, and at the flame of the small diya that cast a soft glow on my offerings. As the rhythmic singing of the legendary tale began again, I lifted my pooja thali and passed it to the unknown woman to the right of me, while she did the same with hers, as did every other woman in unrehearsed coordination who was seated in the large circle on the temple floor. The sight was magnificent, a flame on every plate, twinkling on the faces of women elaborately decked out in their finest jewels and Indian garments. It was as if several hundred new brides of every age had descended on the temple all at once. The thalis were passed around the circle from woman to woman, until at last all the thalis were reunited with their rightful owners. This was the celebration of Karva Chauth, and for the first time in the 15 years that I had been a wilful participant, I wondered what exactly I was doing.

Karva Chauth is an annual ritual of strict fasting predominantly observed by married Hindu women in or from North India, who sacrifice in order to unite the body and soul towards a single purpose – to pray for the long and healthy lives of their husbands. It follows the lunar calendar and is usually observed on a day in late October or early November. The fast begins at sunrise and ends only after offering prayers and worshipping the moon at night, with not even a single drop of water in between.

I remember as a little girl how excited I would be when Karva Chauth came around. My mother would tuck me into bed with assurances that she would not forget to wake me up at 5:00 in the morning so that we could share a meal together – just her and I. And when she did, my mom freshly showered and I bleary-eyed, it somehow seemed like precious stolen time. While the rest of the world was asleep and the dark of the night enveloped us, she and I would enjoy yummy fresh paranthas, yogurt, fruits and some tranquil bonding moments together. It felt truly special.

And so, as a young woman praying for a good husband, and as a young bride who did manage to find an amazing husband, I never gave it a second thought. That I would sacrifice a day of food and offer my penance for a long married life with him was the least I could do. It struck my husband as odd, however, that I should engage in a ritual sacrifice for his long life. As he explained to me on our first Karva Chauth together, why would he want to live a long life if not with me (see what I mean about amazing)? And so our modern take on an old custom was born. He fasted for me, and I fasted for him. It was symbolic and loving and pure. It was mutual and it was giving. So, year after year, without question, we fasted on Karva Chauth together, breaking the fast with my mother or his mother and their respective circles of fasting friends.

In the years since the two of us moved to Toronto, we have increasingly felt culturally adrift. Strange statement, I know, in this city replete with Indians, but true nonetheless. And it crystallized over the years through celebrations like Karva Chauth and Diwali. When we were growing up in Montreal, our parents’ social circles were made up mostly of other Indian immigrant families, who clung to one another and became our extended families. That first generation’s direct and immediate connection to the culture from India meant that our occasions were festively celebrated, our culture was actively transmitted through them. Me, my husband, and a whole generation of second-generation Indians only know what we know through them. We are one generation removed from our native culture, and surrounded by a different mainstream culture that pulls us in another direction. It is a real effort to preserve our “Indian-ness”, like fighting a strong underwater current, with each of us finding our own footing in a unique place as we navigate between the two cultures.

So, here in Toronto, with no ability to rely regularly on our parents, it was a discouraging realization to feel responsible for our nuclear family’s cultural connection, doubly so when we realized that many of our Indian friends either did not feel the affinity to our culture or could easily rely on their parents, many of whom live in the vicinity. Of course, we could do the same and go home to Montreal to be with our families on our special occasions, but since they often fall during the work week and are not recognized holidays in the Christian calendar such as Christmas and Easter, it is not always practical.

So, over the past many years in Toronto, while my strict observance of the Karva Chauth fast has been unwavering, my adherence to the rituals, including the pooja, has suffered both in practice and enthusiasm. I found myself in a situation where I had no one with whom I could regularly do the thali pooja or break my fast. Some of my friends who do observe the fast have their own families around them, while others opt out altogether for a multitude of legitimate reasons. Some find the practice chauvinistic or antiquated, others feel that is just doesn’t work for the modern working woman to fast during the work day.

And so it was that this year I went to the temple. Instead of just throwing a chunni on my head at home and going through the motions, I put on a bright sari and dressed the kids in their Indian clothes. I sat amongst countless other women recounting a Karva Chauth tale that defies belief and holds no meaning for me … and I asked myself why I bother. Exactly why am I compelled to go to all this trouble for a ritual that may not be well suited to these modern times and values?

And it dawned on me that it is a connection to my past, to my childhood, to my mother. And my connection to something even further back than that, to my ancestral and cultural history. And it is a way for me to transmit to my children an unspoken sense about their past, their inheritance through us, me and my husband.

As their faces lit up when we stepped into the temple, and as they embraced all that being Indian had to offer in that moment, I finally knew that I was doing the right thing.

05/27/2010

As my faithful readers know, this blog began as a chronicle of my ongoing journey as I work to turn my dream of producing a lifestyle show on all things South Asian into a reality. For the last many blogs, however, I digressed from the originally conceived format and instead delved into more substantive, issue-oriented topics. The more I wrote, the more I found to write about. It turns out there is no shortage of interesting, engaging and compelling issues for us to talk about … and that is great news for the talk show! So, this blog will continue to serve as a witness to both the challenges and rewards of producing such a show as well as the issues of the day that grab our attention and imagination.

That having been said, today I am picking up the threads from one of my earlier ‘journey’ blogs. Have you ever had a dream but didn’t quite know how to achieve it? That was me one year ago and, who are we kidding, even today. It is like I am on this never-ending learning curve that is so steep, there is no summit in sight. But I know it is there! Here, then, is a continuation of my journey.

One year ago:

I was a stay-at-home mom with a BIG dream and absolutely no idea how to get there. I had no relevant connections, no investment capital, no experience in this field and virtually no spare time. I had the primary responsibility of raising my children well (something I consider I will always have irrespective of any delegation), of ensuring a smoothly functioning household (debatable at the best of times!), and of fulfilling my responsibilities to the not-for-profit Boards on which I serve. It was truly daunting to add another ball to all the ones I was already juggling, and that too, one which was just one big, fat question mark.

Today:

My dream is now a well-defined vision, I have a fantastic business partner who shares my drive and passion, an experienced and committed director and production team, a shooting location, market survey results indicating an keen interest in this show, an Investor Package in its final stages of preparation, a website in development, the active help of new and inspiring friends, and the good wishes and support of so many people I have encountered along the way.

So, how did I get from there to here?

Step 1: Serious self-reflection and contemplation

I had to face facts. I was avoiding returning to the legal profession as a government lawyer. Something about drafting legislation and regulations for the rest of my life did not appeal to me. Go figure. So, then, what did appeal to me? What did I enjoy? While changing diapers and singing lots of kiddie songs, staying up nights and preparing nutritious yet fun meals (tall order!), I stole moments here and there to think...to reflect...to feel. And about a year ago, I was finally able to recognize the things that matter most to me, to identify what most inspires and drives me and to acknowledge my strengths and weaknesses. Based on all this, I began to formulate this fantastical idea of celebrating my South Asian pride by producing and hosting a talk show relevant to my generation of South Asians.

Step 2: Sharing the idea

Tentatively at first, and gradually with increasing passion and excitement, I began to share my idea with a select group of people...my family and close friends. I wanted genuine support but also wanted genuine feedback, so I approached those who would have my best interests at heart, and who would be honest with me. After all, if I had to be saved from myself, the earlier the better.

Luckily for me, the idea struck a definite chord, and this did wonders for me. You see, the first person I had to sell the concept to was myself, and I was sold. But would others see it, believe in it? Once I could see that the idea had value in other's eyes, I began to believe. This was a huge confidence boost, and it solidified my determination to give this my all. After all, what did I have to lose?!

Great, okay, so decision made to go for it. But how?? I had no idea how to approach this, what to do or where to go from there.

Step 3: Faith and a Conversation with the Universe

First things first, I had a talk with myself. That this was going to be a difficult path with hardships and adversity was certain. What I needed was firm resolve to meet those challenges head on, the strength to persevere in spite of the odds. In other words, I needed faith. I believe in myself and I believe in this concept. This will happen. The only question is when.

And then I had a talk with the universe. This sounds a little hokey, I know, but I have to tell you, it worked (so far anyway). Simply put, I came to peace with my decision and asked the universe for help. If you believe in fate, destiny, karma or any of those great spiritual notions, this is hardly a stretch. Of course, this didn’t mean that I put it out there and then sat on my laurels waiting for great things to happen. Rather, it meant that while I undertook active steps in pursuit of my goal, I remained vigilant and open to possibilities, knowledge and opportunities.

Step 4: Networking, Networking, Networking

Once I had made the decision, or rather the commitment, to do everything I could to turn this concept into a reality, I made a fundamental realization…I could not do this alone. The task was too big, the unknown variables too daunting. I needed help to get there. I needed to find people who were doing or who had done what I was attempting to do. This meant reaching out to friends, and friends of friends. This meant attending events that would bring me in close proximity with such people. This even meant reaching out to people with whom I had no connection at all.

In short, networking, networking, networking!

I cannot overstate how important this has been to my progress, and I would argue, to the success of so many accomplished individuals. We are humans, and humans are all about connectivity. It is why we live in clans and feel the need for belongingness. Why not turn this need into an asset and make it work for you?

I was already applying the principles of marketing without even realizing it, when I stumbled across a great book, Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. Its intuitive wisdom appealed to me and what’s more, it gave me networking strategies that were effective and do-able. The thing that struck me the most was one of the cornerstone principles of networking: generosity. The most effectively networking is the kind that is not motivated solely by personal interest or gain, but one that is done with a spirit of generosity and willingness to help others. Helping others without an expectation in return is, in many cases, reward enough. But interestingly, you will find that the more you practice this kind of networking, the more liberally people offer to help you in unexpected and generous ways. It as the old adage goes…what goes around really does come around!

02/17/2010

If you have been following my blog, you will remember from my 1st blog, Julie & Julia...and Niru:

The Dream:

Produce and Host a Talk Show

The Challenge:

Everything. And every step. This is my Mt. Everest.

Realization:

Sometime during the course of my lifetime, but preferably in 2010!

Let me paint a "Then and Now" picture for you.

One year ago:

I was a stay-at-home mom with a BIG dream and absolutely no idea how to get there. I had no relevant connections, no investment capital, no experience in this field and virtually no spare time. I had the primary responsibility of raising my children well (something I consider I will always have irrespective of any delegation), of ensuring a smoothly functioning household (debatable at the best of times!), and of fulfilling my responsibilities to the not-for-profit Boards on which I serve. It was truly daunting to add another ball to all the ones I was already juggling, and that too, one which was just one big, fat question mark.

Today:

My dream is now a well-defined vision, I have a fantastic business partner who shares my drive and passion, an experienced and committed director and production team, a shooting location, market survey results indicating an keen interest in this show, an Investor Package in its final stages of preparation, the active help of new and inspiring friends, and the good wishes and support of so many people I have encountered along the way.

Not bad, eh? Suddenly, the improbable and unlikely is starting to look like it might actually happen!

Put like this, it sometimes even surprises me that I've made it this far. And in moments when I experience doubt or anxiety, and there are plenty of those, believe me, I run through this list to boost my confidence. To be sure, there is still a loooooooong way to go and it is still a steep uphill climb, but I have come a long way and that's saying something.

This blog is the chronicle of my ongoing journey.

So, how did I get from then to now?

Step 1: Serious self-reflection and contemplation

I had to face facts. I was avoiding returning to the legal profession as a government lawyer. Something about drafting legislation and regulations for the rest of my life did not appeal to me. Go figure. So, then, what did appeal to me? What did I enjoy? While changing diapers and singing lots of kiddie songs, staying up nights and preparing nutritious yet fun meals (tall order!), I stole moments here and there to think...to go inwards...to feel. And about a year ago, I was finally able to recognize the things that matter most to me, to identify what most inspires and drives me and to acknowledge my strengths and weaknesses. Based on all this, I began to formulate this fantastical idea of celebrating my South Asian pride by producing and hosting a talk show relevant to my generation of South Asians.

Step 2: Sharing the idea

Tentatively at first, and gradually with increasing passion and excitement, I began to share my idea with a select group of people...my family and close friends. I wanted genuine support but also wanted genuine feedback, so I approached those who would have my best interests at heart, and who would be honest with me. After all, if I had to be saved from myself, the earlier the better.

Luckily for me, the idea struck a definite chord, and this did wonders for me. You see, the first person I had to sell the concept to was myself, and I was sold. But would others see it, believe in it? Once I could see that the idea had value in other's eyes, I began to believe. This was a huge confidence boost, and it solidified my determination to give this my all. After all, what did I have to lose?!

Great, okay, so decision made to go for it. But how?? I had no idea how to approach this, what to do or where to go from there. Which leads me nicely to my next step.

Step 3: Faith and a Conversation with the Universe

[Yikes, its 12:45am and I have to be up at 5:30am to catch a flight! This was the only time I got to work on this blog between caring for 2 sick kids, packing and dealing with a caregiver crisis. So I will stop here for now, but you will find my next blog in the first week of March.]

02/10/2010

For those of you who read my maiden blog last week– Julie & Julia…and Niru – and especially for those of you who know me well, your reaction to my public declaration was likely this…

… Produce and host a talk show? … WHAT??

Why would an ambitious lawyer and mother of two jump off an established career track, forsake the sweet security of a professional life and a good income, and all to chase an improbable, unlikely, pie-in-the-sky idea?? And you would be right to ask that. Indeed, I ask myself that question regularly, especially at 5am when anxiety has a rather all-consuming and magnified effect.

So let me back up a bit and explain.

For the past four years, I have taken a pause in my professional life to delight in being a part of my children's young lives, and delight I have. Notwithstanding the constant fatigue and the never-ending challenges(!), children are an endless source of amusement, inspiration and pleasure. Their innocence and love can just take your breath away. I have experienced more moments of pure joy – almost spiritual – than at any other time in my life. As a woman, I have never been more fulfilled.

But as much as I adore my children, I am more than just a mother. All this fulfillment in my personal life raised a further question: Am I fulfilled in my professional life?

I once heard someone say that if you look back at the past 5 or 10 years on your life and you are not happy with what you see - be it with your job, your home, your hobbies, or your whole life - if you do nothing about it, the next 5 or 10 years will look exactly the same.

My turn to say: WHAT??

Isn’t this just the biggest eye-opener? One day quietly trickles into the next, one month seamlessly slips into another, and before you know it, years have whizzed by and yet you are still in exactly the same place as you were before. In other words, if you carry on as usual and make no variations in your habits, patterns or activities, how can you expect anything to change? There is no way to argue with this simple logic, and yet we somehow hope against hope that transformative change will magically come to us. We just wait for something to happen. So, most of us just trudge along in life and realize too late that the rut we are in is one of our own making.

And why? Because change is hard! It feels like it would take Herculean effort to do anything other than just get through the hustle and bustle of each day. Small changes seem daunting, big ones seem as insurmountable as climbing Mt. Everest! No matter the destination, the first step is always the hardest, probably because of the weight of the desired end result. But it is not impossible. Remember, even the journey of a 1000 miles begins with one step. And that step does not have to be dramatic or big, even if the ultimate goal is. You could start with something as simple as signing up for a hobby, enrolling in a class, reading a book or reaching out to someone who can help. No doubt, making real change is a difficult road, paved with self-doubt, but when was something worth having ever easy?

As for me, I had long been feeling that I was not achieving my full professional potential. I was not tapping into my essential talents and innate skills, and I certainly was not following the powerful draw of my dreams and desires. So, I decided to do something about it. Oddly enough, I found my courage and inspiration from the unlikeliest of people. My children.

As I watched my children's eyes open with wonder at what the world had to offer when they tasted their first morsels of food, I thought about what the world could offer me and what I had to offer the world. As I recognized their determination to get a hold of something just out of reach, I recognized my own determination to shape my destiny according to what matters to me and not blindly follow the beaten path. And as I witnessed them take their first tentative steps, knowing that they would stumble but get up again, I realized what they had been teaching me all the while I thought I was teaching them ...

... I got up, and tentatively took my first baby step towards my new destiny.

Stay tuned to my weekly blog, where I will continue to share my journey with you.

02/03/2010

Last weekend, my husband, my sister and I befittingly tucked into our sumptuous meal as we watched the elaborate culinary delights being prepared in Julie and Julia.

The movie was exactly what I needed - light, entertaining and inspirational.

But much to my surprise, it had another rather unexpected impact on me. It was my Eureka! moment on – of all things - blogging and social networking.

I’ll be honest. My husband and I resist change, especially technological ones. Many of my friends are guffawing now, since they have lived through it with us. “How do you live without caller ID??” “When are you going to get a cell phone??” On principle, my husband and I had resisted the temptation to buy a cell phone, that is, until public pay phones started to disappear from street corners! Let’s not even talk about Blackberries or iPhones, home theatre systems and the like.

We are not complete dinosaurs, though. We are the proud owners of a MAC and I did join facebook for the sheer pleasure of adding friends…those who found me, that is. But that’s the extent of it. And as for blogging, I barely understood this new word in the English lexicon, let alone who did it and where. While it seems the whole world was saying blog blog blog, all I heard was blah blah blah. I was clueless.

And then I bore witness to the power of the cyber-word. A woman, struggling to make her life meaningful, transformed her passion into a personal challenge and shared that challenge with, well…no one at first, and then the world! She blogged and gradually, more and more people read. So popular became her blog that Julie Powell now has two published books to her name and a movie in which her inspired project was brought to life by Hollywood greats. All due to the transformative power of the blogged word. Truly amazing.

So, in keeping with the new year, a fresh beginning and firsts, here I am with my maiden blog, and with a public declaration of the passion that I intend to transform into a reality.

The Dream: Produce and Host a Talk Show

The Challenge: Everything. And every step. This is my Mt. Everest.

Realization: Sometime during the course of my lifetime, but preferably in 2010.

Follow my journey on my weekly blog as I try to make this happen. And wish me luck or write me a cheque (for the show)!

Would you believe that before I blogged, I tweeted. We’re off to a good start…